EU must change to keep Britain: British FinMin

BERLIN, Jan.12 (Xinhua) -- British Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne told German media on Friday that the European Union must change for more protection of non-eurozone members' rights in order to keep Britain in the EU.

"We welcome the euro being strengthened but we also want the rights of countries that are not in the eurozone to be protected", Osborne told German newspaper Die Welt, adding that the EU must change for Britain to stay in the bloc.

Also on Friday, German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle told local media that Germany desires a Britian that will remain "a constructive and active partner in the EU", adding that Germany wants a deeper and better EU of 27 members, including Britain.

British Prime Minister David Cameron said last Sunday that the country will be offered a "real choice" on its relationship with Europe at the next election. Cameron faces increasing pressure from his own party to claw back more powers from Brussels.

In an interview with local media last month, German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble warned Britain against "blackmailing" its EU partners to bring more powers back from EU, adding that Germany wants to keep Britain in the EU.